In a fashion shoot directed for W Magazine,Jordan Peele put singer-slash-actress Janelle Monáe into the world of Alfred Hitchcock. For the cinematic images, Monáe plays a private investigator sporting a gray Marc Jacobs suit with either a camera, gun, or briefcase depending on the scene.
“I wanted to create a Hitchcock moment that doesn’t really exist in a Hitchcock film,” Peele told W.
Peele named the reinvention Noir Town. “I didn’t want the Hitchcock heroine,” he explained. “I wanted the Hitchcock hero. That way, we can reclaim this movie that we never got to see. The fear of gender and race robs us of beautiful pieces of film.”
The photos are part of a series commissioned by W, where Peele and directors Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) and Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) were invited to create cinematic spring fashion spreads featuring their favorite leading ladies. Peele settled on a thriller starring Monáe, who's made moves onscreen in Moonlight, Hidden Figures, and Electric Dream.
Monáe recently announced the release of her forthcoming visual album Dirty Computer coming this spring. Meanwhile, Peele is getting ready to work on his next film, the follow-up to Get Out.
Check out the stunning photo shoot that is Noir Town here.
